Hedley school officials are hoping voters will approve a higher tax rate this November to help the district compete on faculty and staff salaries and keep up with maintenance and safety issues.
The Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) will be held Tuesday, November 5, which is the same day as the presidential election. Early voting will be from October 21 to November 1.
Voters are being asked to approve a 12-cent increase in the school district’s ad valorem rate, which would bring it to $0.7892 per $100 valuation, and would bring in an additional $257,394 to the district.
“We don’t have the money to compete with other districts, and we’d like to give just a little more for salaries and stipends,” Superintendent Tracey Bell said. “We’d also like to put some back for maintenance and operations.”
The school just recently had to pay out of pocket for a new roof, Bell said, and officials want to be more competitive on salaries while addressing safety concerns as well.
Bell said the Region 16 Education Service Center first brought up the idea of a VATRE election in the spring and the school board spent several meetings considering the idea before moving forward. She said a presentation two weeks ago at the Hedley Lions Club received positive feedback.
“People see it as a way to keep the school going,” Bell said.
Homesteads valued at $100,000 or less are exempt from school property taxes. A 12-cent increase would raises the Hedley school taxes on a $200,000 homestead by $120 per year.
Bell said more information is available on the school’s website, https://www.hedleyisd.net/page/voter-approval-tax-ratification-election-vatre. A calculator on the site can help taxpayers figure what their added tax burden would be.
The school will hold a public meeting on Monday, October 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the board and superintendent to answer any questions citizens may have.
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